The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-16
UNFIT TO PRINT.
Boston Publishers Declare One of the Rev.
DIR. Fulton's Books Obscene.


Boston Publishers Declare One of the Rev.
DIR. FuIton's Books Obscene.
Boston Special.
The Rev. Justin D. Fulton having in an ad-
dress in Music Hall, yesterday, bitterly attacked
the publishing firm of Rand, Avery e. Co.. ac-
cusing them of having, because of Catholic
pressure, refused to carry out contract to
print his book. why Priests Should Wed.'
after over 100 pages of it had beer. put in type,
and also asserting that they had refused to re-
turn him the manuscript of the book, Rand
Avery & Co. to-day publish letter, in which,
after denying that any Catholic influence was
brought to bear to induce them to refuse to
print the book they say that, relying upon DR..
Fultons standing, they contracted without
reading the manuscript, to print the book. The
letter continues:
1.-The superintendent of the book composing
room notified the manager that Why Priests
Should Wed was creating considerable troubls
among the female employees of our book-room;
that our female help thought it an outrage that
we should ask them to handle the language con-
tanned in that book. We then read the manu-
script in our hands, and decided that 1t was in
decent
"We then sent for DR.. Fulton and informed him
that his book obscene that would not
print it, and perhaps used little stronger
language. for were very indignant at the
trouble he had caused US, and informed him that
we would not only not print the book, but that
we would not deliver his manuscript until the
question of its decency had been decided upon.
I'VE were aware in doing this that we had
laid ourselves liable for damages, and we in
formed Dr. Fulton that he had placed US in
very bad position.
.iOn the one hand, the printing aud earring
out of contract would place in a false
light, not only before the public, but before
own work people; the other, we have made
contract which, under ordinary circum-
stances, would we break.
las to his charge of cowardice we have
merely to say that we are breaking the contract
only because we think we have right, NOR
ally. to fulfill it; we will break contract
rather than force our help to handle language
that is unfit, in opinion. to be read by
spectacle men and women. We also have the
courage to say to DIR. Fvlton and to the public
to-day-tbat, if it is shown that this book,
Why Priets Should Wed owing to the motives
OF its unQuestionably sincere and devour author,
is fit for publcation-we will not only recede
from our position of printing the book, but
our action in this matter has caused DR.. Fulton
to lose his publisher, will publish the book
for him and make good to him any pecuniary
damages he mas sustained.
I'VE know probably better than anyone else
in this city, how much courage it takes to do
this. for We have had evidence to-day that this
matter has stirred some citizens of Boston and
suburban towns to their very depths, and
know that whoever prints publishes this book
Will do so st great peril 10 himself. Still, We
are forced to make this offer. to-day
placed in light of deliberately breaking our
contract, and we know that only thing will
justify us in doing this-that thing is
prove that the book is only unfit for US
print, but is unfit for any establishment in
America to print"
The extent to which the incident has excited
Boston is shown by the statement in another
part of the letter that 'Our Office has been
besieged by many men and women insisting
upon our going on with this obscene work. that
1t has almost been impossible to carry
legitimate business. Our mail to-day has been
so crowded with CALLING letters, instigated by
this preacher. that it has almost beenimpossible
to attend to our legitimate correspondence The
majority of these letters appeal to go
with DR.. Fulton's books; but others threaten US
if we dare 60 ON